Wakefield College won the Heart Creative Arts Award at the Educate North Awards for its contributions to Wakefield’s ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign – a joint women’s safety movement with the local council and community.
Competing against colleges and universities throughout the North of England, the award win marks a triumphant success for the College.
Students and Lecturers from the Film, Media & Television and Art & Design departments at Wakefield College worked in collaboration with Wakefield Council representatives to plan, promote and implement Wakefield’s first-ever Reclaim the Night campaign.
Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls, the Reclaim the Night campaign demands for women and girls to feel safe in public spaces at night.
Gemma Haigh, Lecturer for Film, Media & Television at Wakefield College, said: “I am immensely proud of my students who have demonstrated remarkable empathy, maturity and dedication throughout this project. Women's safety is an issue of pressing concern, with violence against women and girls now recognised as a serious epidemic. I firmly believe that education is essential in addressing this challenge.”
Natalie Walton, Labour Councillor for Wakefield East Ward, delivered a client brief to the Film, Media & Television department to produce a student-led social media marketing campaign to promote the women’s safety march through the city last November, which was the first-of-its-kind and was attended by over three hundred people.
The march in Wakefield had the largest turnout amongst all Reclaim the Night events in West Yorkshire, with the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire describing it as “the biggest, the best, the most brilliant”.
Reclaim the Night march in November 2025, Wakefield city centre.
Rob, Creative Media Production student at Wakefield College, who filmed and interviewed content for the Reclaim the Night Wakefield’s social media campaign, said: “It's fantastic to have won this award, as the project meant so much to so many people. It highlights the impact that we, as students, have had on not just the local community but the whole of the North of England. I’ve really enjoyed working on this project and over the moon to be coming back next year as an ambassador.”
Rob was also shortlisted for the College Student of the Year Award at the Educate North Awards, which outlined his involvement in the campaign and local politics.
The degree-level Art & Design students from Wakefield College’s University Centre designed, sewed and embroidered the official banner for the event which was held at the forefront of the marching protestors. The students also led a banner making workshop for the local community to prepare vibrant signs for the protest.
Wakefield College is part of Heart of Yorkshire Education Group which was nominated for a further five awards at the Educate North Awards including Business Engagement, College or FE Student Achievement of the Year, Digital and AI Innovation, the Innovation Award and the STEM Initiative Award.